Hello, World!

Joined
Apr 20, 2017
Messages
34
Location
Eugene, OR
Hi! :) I'm glad this place exists. This is one of those book series I am almost constantly re-reading, and I've often wished that there were some sort of Aes Sedai-esque society out in the real world. I didn't remember until recently that the internet is a big place, and I might want to look around it - and found this site!

I am a 26 yo female from Eugene, Oregon. I enjoy long-distance adventure cycling, knitting, reading, and kowtowing to my cat. I spend most of my time pretending I can multitask as a CSA at a local insurance agency and embarrassing my boyfriend with bad puns. I went to school for Ecology/Conservation Biology, so I am a huge fan of a variety of cyanobacteria and fungi, and the outdoors in general. I prefer to write and read than speak and listen because I generally have a hard time expressing myself or understanding people in person.

I'm not sure what else to say about myself, so I'll answer the questions from the New/Need Help? sticky. :)

Who is your favorite character in The Wheel of Time and why?
I admire Mat, because he seems the most honest. About his morals and intentions, at least (he has his secrets, of course). He doesn't manipulate others, and he does what he wants to do - even if he knows he is being forced into something, if he knows that it's the right thing to do, he will still do it, not just refuse out of spite. He has no ulterior motives except to take care of the people he cares for, and he still hangs on to his essential sense of self despite external (and internal!) influences.

How did you find TarValon.Net?
Le Google. I think I searched for something like "how to become Aes Sedai".

Where are you from? What languages to you speak?
I live in Eugene but I've spent the majority of my life in North Idaho; and my early childhood slowly making my way from one end of California to the other. I speak English, though I am super rusty on Spanish, German, and Latin, and only slightly less coherent than an infant in Russian, Korean, and (ancient) Greek. I dabble a lot. I think linguistics are fascinating, particularly the morphing of languages over time and distance, and the connections between languages.

What is your favorite book or author other than Robert Jordan and The Wheel of Time?
This question changes on a monthly to yearly basis for me. Currently I'd have to say Mother Night by Kurt Vonnegut (a weird and fascinating book about a dissociative spy), and Into Thick Air by Jim Malusa (nonfiction by the author, about how travels biking to the lowest point on each continent). I also read an excellent few books recently by a newish author named Jennifer Foehner Wells, who has a series-in-progress about a linguist who receives an unexpected life twist and becomes a space explorer (basically). I used to be a librarian... I should probably stop here :D.

So hi. I would like to make friends and be Aes Sedai. :)
 

Dovienya el'Korim

Aes Sedai
Head of the Green Ajah
Headteacher
Joined
Apr 25, 2005
Messages
8,678
Location
Michigan, USA
Pronouns
  1. She - Her
Discord
Dovienya#9587
Hi and welcome to TV.net!

May is definitely my favorite character as well. He always does the right thing, but tries to convince himself that he isn't. I love how linguistically inclined you are. We have members here from all over the world. I studied Russian, but I'm so rusty I don't think I could I could carry on a conversation.

And yes, if you stick with it here, you can be Aes Sedai :joy
 
Joined
May 13, 2017
Messages
457
Location
Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Hi Sowinda and welcome. I'm new here too, but a fellow servant of feline overlords;) I have to say, your current reading faves make for an interesting list. I'm a fan of Vonnegut; that one is going on my must read list.
 

Fern Al'Thorn

Aes Sedai
Joined
Feb 10, 2017
Messages
6,119
Location
Indiana, USA
Pronouns
  1. She - Her
Discord
FernAlthorn #6236
:welcome
I am glad you found us here! If you have any questions just ask!
:joy
 

Roheryn ni Galghandhrei t'al'Djinn

SylphrenRoh
Aes Sedai
Director of Membership
Joined
Apr 26, 2011
Messages
10,941
Location
New Jersey
Pronouns
  1. She - Her
Discord
roherynargo
Welcome!

I have to admit, I was rather confused at first reading about your other favorite books. A few months ago I read an absolutely amazing book called "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer. So a book called "Into Thick Air" had me scratching my head. So I had to go look it up, it sounds interesting! I should read it.
 
Joined
Jan 23, 2006
Messages
7,457
Age
39
Location
Taunus region, Germany
Welcome :D

I never heard someone say that they are a fan of cyanobacteria. :geek But I approve ;)
 

Satrim Kha'os

Aes Sedai
Joined
Apr 28, 2015
Messages
6,832
Pronouns
  1. He - Him
Well met, fellow Mat fan :fistbump I got excited because I misread CSA as CSI :look:

I prefer to write and read than speak and listen because I generally have a hard time expressing myself or understanding people in person.
I understand this all too well.
 

Cahalan Sothron

Meme and Money Queen
Aes Sedai
Joined
Feb 10, 2015
Messages
17,808
Age
50
Location
Georgia
Pronouns
  1. She - Her
Discord
Maihgread#0
Lovely to meet you, Sowinda! Please make yourself at home, and if you need anything, just holler. Someone will always help out :)

:welcome
 

Faeril Munlear

Knight of the Glitterati
Aes Sedai
Joined
Jan 27, 2003
Messages
7,577
Location
Texas
Pronouns
  1. She - Her
Discord
Faeril#4588
:welcome to Tar Valon, Sowinda!
 

Ealandrelle Melyma

Aes Sedai
Joined
Dec 31, 2012
Messages
12,610
Welcome to Tar Valon, Sowinda :) I need to go look up the books you've mentioned - I'm always looking for recommendations :)
 

Elania al'Manir

Aes Sedai
Joined
Jan 19, 2005
Messages
10,238
Location
Missouri
Pronouns
  1. She - Her
Welcome to TarValon.net! :D

I think it's great that you've studied so many languages. I've done Spanish, French, Latin, Ancient Greek, and one semester of Chinese. Is there any particular reason you're familiar with so many, or is it just a hobby?

Also, feel free to send me a visitor message (or later a private message after you're a citizen) with any questions you might have, or just to talk!
 

Liam al'Eire

Poet Laureate
Aes Sedai
Joined
Jan 29, 2014
Messages
3,364
Welcome and well met!!

So glad you found us, and I hope you stay a very long time. This is a great community to be a part.of.

If you have questions or want to chat, don't hesitate to ask, or PM me anytime.
 

Asandra al'Terra

Marquise de Sparkle
Aes Sedai
Joined
Jun 4, 2003
Messages
6,756
Location
NYC
Pronouns
  1. She - Her
Discord
ola#8172
Welcome, Sowinda! :hug It's great to meet you!

Also your city of origin can only make me think of:

giphy.gif


:D
 

Marivea al'Corriyi

Aes Sedai
Joined
Feb 5, 2009
Messages
12,291
Location
Montana
Pronouns
  1. They - Them
Welcome!

Hey, Eugene! I've worked in/out/around Eugene several times for a conservation corps - NorthWest Youth Corps. It's one of my favorite cities! But not in June and July - pollen count's too high. D: D: D:

How did you end up migrating from Idaho to Cali to Eugene?
 
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